Hola, well here we are in Guaymas. What better time to start a sailblog than the week we are hauling "True Companion" and storing her on the hard for 2 years or more. The sails are off, the Bimini is stripped, the running rigging is all down and messengers run. That was early Feb.
By mid Feb the stainless was polished, the filters and fluids changed, batteries disconnected, downstairs cleaned and packed. all the electronics removed and stored in the stove, apparently that's what you do to protect them from a lightning strike.
Feb 15 th was haul out day. We were out of the water by 9.00am and had the last prep and covers on by 1.00pm. Quite a morning.
How did we come to this when just a few short months ago we were preparing to sail "True Companion across the Pacific this year. As it happens we are still puddle jumping this year, just not on our beloved TC, but on a lovely wooden schooner named "Sara M", captained by a great fella by the name of Alan.
Back in early October 2013 I was talking with Alan while hiking in Puerto Don Juan. He was looking for crew and I asked him if he would consider taking Nat and I. At the time I asked I wasn't really keen on the idea and Alan definitely said no so that was that I thought. The reason for my asking was that Nat still wasn't really confident and I thought she might feel better going with someone else, I had mentioned it to her in jest previously but not seriously.
What would you know, Alan arrived in LaPaz at the start of Dec and payed us a visit or 2. Just working up the courage I think to ask if we were still interested in joining Sara. Inspite of Nats and my preparations on TC I think it we just looked at each other and said yes right away. That's how confident we are in Alan and Sara M.
At this point I should tell you that we met Alan earlier in the year at Isla Coronados Sth. He is a single hander on a 17.37m (57ft) wooden schooner which he built himself, she has no engine, no auto pilot and no winches. WOW is all we and a lot of other people can say. That, and what a nut job. Hahaha.